The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and relevant links.

Unusual Sky Over Deventer, Netherlands

The unusual cloud formation shown above was captured over Deventer, Netherlands, a little before sunset on December 16, 2013. Wave structures are apparent across this ragged sky, but it's unclear if these 'eyebrow' clouds take the form of undulatus asperatus clouds (Stratocumulus undulatus asperatus), lenticular clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis) or of some other type of cloud. Because there are few geographic obstacles (minimal elevated terrain) in the Netherlands and surrounding areas, lenticular clouds are rarely observed here. In general, undulatus asperatus seem to have a predisposition to occur following convective storms the previous night. But no such storms were noted in the vicinity of Deventer. Nor does the sky have a particularly menacing appearance, typically associated with undulatus asperatus clouds.